Later that day, Alfred sat on his usual stool. "Say, Artie! It's lunchtime, right? Want me to get you something?" Alfred asked happily.

Arthur sighed. "Do I have a say in the matter?"

Alfred grinned ear to ear. "Probably not. Be right back!" he exclaimed before skipping like an idiot out of the room. Arthur shook his head and stared at the door.

"Git..." he mumbled, a small smile forming on his face. He frowned and shivered as a draft of cold air passed him. For as long as he could remember-though, in all honesty, that wasn't saying much-he had always been a bit sensitive to the cold. Even though it was the middle of July, he found himself wishing they would turn up the thermostat.

Vus apendre en cors…

Arthur froze when he heard this. "Who's there?"

Vus apendre en cors… Vus aver cors atenir... Arthur...

It sounded like everything and nothing; both male and female, young and old, raspy and soft, melodious and terrifying. It spoke with an accent; French, perhaps Russian? Swedish? Arthur was too freaked out to tell. He looked out the window to see that same hooded figure again, completely shadowed. The figure held out a rose-blood red-and placed it on the windowsill outside before leaving. Arthur hugged himself, completely terrified.

"Oh, bloody hell..." he muttered, covering the right side of his face with his hand, close to tears.

"Artie?" Arthur spun around to see a very concerned Alfred with two large McDonald's bags and jumbo drinks. Arthur gasped a little and wiped his eyes. Alfred walked toward him and quietly set the food down on the table before sitting on his usual stool and staring at Arthur.

Arthur scowled. "W-What're you looking at, git?" he asked, staring at his lap.

Alfred raised a hand and wiped a stray tear off of Arthur's face, holding it up to Arthur and glaring. "What happened?" he asked, feeling a wave of protectiveness overcoming him.

Arthur blushed and looked away again. "Nothing did." he muttered. "Besides, it isn't your concern."

Alfred stood up suddenly. "Yeah, it is! The hero is supposed to protect people, and how can I make you feel better if I don't know what's wrong! C'mon, Artie, please!" he practically begged.

Arthur looked back at him, feeling sort of sorry for him, before looking back down into his own lap. "It's really nothing…" he said. "It's nothing."

Alfred gave him a disbelieving look. "Mmhmm. Now what was it?"

"I told you, it's nothing!" Arthur yelled.

Alfred stared at him before sighing and opening up the bag. "C'mon. Lunch." he said simply, handing Arthur his happy meal. Said British man stared at said meal.

"What is this?"

"A happy meal."

"I'm 26."

"So? The toys are still awesome."

"And you're certain you're 26?" Arthur asked, looking at the American as if he was crazy.

Alfred smiled. "Well, duh! I think I'd know my own age, dude." he reasoned, stuffing his entire hamburger into his mouth. "Mefaids, mf ifs for Arfur, I'd mhay all fa toys in fa world. Mf it wooh make Arfur happier…" he reasoned through his lunch. After taking a moment to process what the hell Alfred was saying, Arthur blushed.

"Idiot. Git. What 26 year old man is happy about happy meal toys?"

Cue Alfred pointing to himself.

Arthur sighed. "Of course."

Alfred swallowed his food and nodded, grinning. "Like I said. They're still awesome." he said. Not a moment later, he winced. "Oh, crap."

Arthur blinked. "What?"

Alfred looked at him, horrified. "I'm turning into Gilbert!" he wailed as if it was the end of the world.

Arthur raised an eyebrow and tried to frown, but ended up succumbing to a bout of laughter. Alfred frowned. "Dude. Not cool. Don't laugh at me." he said. Arthur kept laughing, and Alfred ended up laughing as well. "Dude, that stuff's contagious, keep it away!"

Arthur finally settled down. Wiping a tear from his eye—no longer a tear of fear or sadness, but of happiness and comfort—he smiled at Alfred. "You're a fool and a git, but I suppose you're alright."

Alfred hadn't been happier in years. Grinning ear to ear with a faint blush dusting his cheeks, he promptly glomped Arthur. "ARTIEEEE!" he cried happily.

Arthur blushed and began trying to detach the emotional American from his person—to no avail, one might add. "Get off of me! Git!" he yelled. "I take back what I said! Get off!"

"No way! Not cool! No take backs!" Alfred cried with a smile, hugging Arthur even tighter. After roughly 10 minutes—yes, they made it last that long—Arthur finally gave in and awkwardly hugged Alfred back.

Esbatement devinir cesser

Cel certein covenant...

Arthur…

Less than 1000 words *shotsohard* The only hint I can give you is this; nothing is or will be as it seems. Figure out what that means and you may stand a chance. I have more to say, but I'll write it down for now. I can't afford giving it away.

On an extra note, the day after the upload; using online translators will not work :D if Google Translate is one of the best online translators out there, it isn't recognized. I'll reveal it all eventually-I just keep thinking of more and more plot twists, isn't this fun?-so just relax and take it easy as I spin this web :D I thought of 4 new plot twists today at school; the problem being, if I wish to incorperate them, I'll have to wait at least 3 or 4 chapters... Feh. I'll write them down for now... Look forward to chapter 5! :D Of which I'm working on at this very moment. Huhuhu, if it goes the way I'm imagining it... this is gonna be so cool! XD *squeals at the idea but doubts own writing ability*